A marriage ruling, a druid vicar, and more
Marriage equality waiting and setbacks
Massachusetts legislators decided Wednesday to postpone a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage until November 9, just days after state and national elections. The Rev. David Horst, minister of the First Parish in Malden, Mass., was one of hundreds who gathered outside of the Massachusetts State House to voice his opinion as lawmakers deliberated inside. "This is the civil rights issue of our day," he said. (Washington Post - 7.12.06)
And in New York, a ruling Thursday from the state's highest court that says same-sex couples do not have a constitutional right to marry dismayed marriage equality proponents. The Rev. Kay Greenleaf of the UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, and one of the ministers who went to New Paltz to perform same-sex marriages in 2004, said the decision made her so angry she could "spit nails." (Poughkeepsie Journal - Poughkeepsie, NY 7.7.06)
A lifelong faith journey
The Rev. Suzanne Spencer's spiritual path has been a bit of a winding one. She was raised a Methodist, but rejected religion in college. While working as a lawyer in Boston she was suddenly hit with the urge to return to church and ended up a UU minister. Now, after 21 years as a UU minister, she's preparing to leave her position as associate minister of First Parish Church in Weston, Mass., to join an Episcopal convent in New York City. (Weston Town Crier - Framingham, MA 7.6.06)
Vicar of druidry
The Rev. Dr. Vernon Marshall is a Unitarian vicar from the UK--he's also a practicing druid. And he's not alone. Eight times a year Marshall joins a "grove" of fellow druids to celebrate ancient rituals, and he sees no conflict between his Unitarianism and his druidry. (Tameside Advertiser - UK 7.5.06)
Painting the town
The Rev. Carol Rosine spent this Fourth of July weekend the same way she has for most of the past 19 years: painting children’s faces during the annual Franklin, Mass., Independence Day celebration. Her church, the First Universalist Society in Franklin, also gets involved in the small-town festivities. Rosine says her face-painting duties are something she really looks forward to each year. (Bellingham Country Gazette - Milford, MA 7.7.06)
Sheehan entreats others to speak out
Cindy Sheehan, who made headlines when she camped out at George W. Bush's ranch in Texas last year after her son was killed in Iraq, urged a crowd at the UU church in Nantucket, Mass., to continue to exercise their First Amendment rights. Sheehan, who considers herself a patriot, said, “Being anti-George Bush is not being anti-American. It’s being pro-American." (Nantucket Island Inquirer - Nantucket Island, MA 7.6.06)
Massachusetts legislators decided Wednesday to postpone a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage until November 9, just days after state and national elections. The Rev. David Horst, minister of the First Parish in Malden, Mass., was one of hundreds who gathered outside of the Massachusetts State House to voice his opinion as lawmakers deliberated inside. "This is the civil rights issue of our day," he said. (Washington Post - 7.12.06)
And in New York, a ruling Thursday from the state's highest court that says same-sex couples do not have a constitutional right to marry dismayed marriage equality proponents. The Rev. Kay Greenleaf of the UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, and one of the ministers who went to New Paltz to perform same-sex marriages in 2004, said the decision made her so angry she could "spit nails." (Poughkeepsie Journal - Poughkeepsie, NY 7.7.06)
A lifelong faith journey
The Rev. Suzanne Spencer's spiritual path has been a bit of a winding one. She was raised a Methodist, but rejected religion in college. While working as a lawyer in Boston she was suddenly hit with the urge to return to church and ended up a UU minister. Now, after 21 years as a UU minister, she's preparing to leave her position as associate minister of First Parish Church in Weston, Mass., to join an Episcopal convent in New York City. (Weston Town Crier - Framingham, MA 7.6.06)
Vicar of druidry
The Rev. Dr. Vernon Marshall is a Unitarian vicar from the UK--he's also a practicing druid. And he's not alone. Eight times a year Marshall joins a "grove" of fellow druids to celebrate ancient rituals, and he sees no conflict between his Unitarianism and his druidry. (Tameside Advertiser - UK 7.5.06)
Painting the town
The Rev. Carol Rosine spent this Fourth of July weekend the same way she has for most of the past 19 years: painting children’s faces during the annual Franklin, Mass., Independence Day celebration. Her church, the First Universalist Society in Franklin, also gets involved in the small-town festivities. Rosine says her face-painting duties are something she really looks forward to each year. (Bellingham Country Gazette - Milford, MA 7.7.06)
Sheehan entreats others to speak out
Cindy Sheehan, who made headlines when she camped out at George W. Bush's ranch in Texas last year after her son was killed in Iraq, urged a crowd at the UU church in Nantucket, Mass., to continue to exercise their First Amendment rights. Sheehan, who considers herself a patriot, said, “Being anti-George Bush is not being anti-American. It’s being pro-American." (Nantucket Island Inquirer - Nantucket Island, MA 7.6.06)
posted by Sonja L. Cohen at
4:08 PM
